KATIE MCBRIDE- There are 11 candidates running in the seat of Nicholls, which is one of the largest amounts in recent times. While there are 5 candidates from parties, which is the largest of any seat this election, what sets ths record are the 6 independents running. The 5 partisan candidates is the highest, but there are also 2 seats with 4 partisan candidates. What we’re saying is, it’s not abnormally high.

But in regards to independents, there’s no independent trend this election- outside of Nicholls, 2 independents are running across the country. Not 2 per seat, but 2 across Australia. So, is it something localised to Nicholls? Let’s take a closer look at the candidates.

A certain candidacy is easy to explain, that of showstealer1829. The former MP for this seat has sat out the previous 2 elections owing to health issues, but is now returning. So, that’s one. What about the other 5?

Looking at their campaigns, Greejatus is calling for the dissolution of Parliament and for the appointment of himself as Lord Protector. greylat is calling for the draining of the Arafura Sea. mincoder is saying that lizard people rule the world. Matris4565 [commonly known as Bromo] is advocating against 5G. So, no unifying community issue, unless being able to count your braincells with 1 hand is an issue that drove these residents to run for Parliament.

So, what might have driven them all to run? Let's look at their preferences. 4 out of 5 of these independents have released how to vote cards. All are preferencing each other, with the independents [with the exception of showstealer1829] at 1-5 on each recommendation. In 3 out of 4 how to vote cards, the 6-11 preferences are identical. The National Party candidate is sixth [i:e, first after the independents], and UnknownTrainor of the Green Left Party is last. showstealer1829 is second last. The only exception is the how to vote card of mincoder, which puts the Green Left Party sixth, the National Party seventh, and showstealer1829 last.

If this isn't proof enough, 2 out of 5 of these candidates have run for the Liberals in the past 3 months. Greejatus ran in Cowper at the previous federal election under the Liberal banner, and Bromo ran for the Liberals just 2 months ago, in Canberra. Yet, in all of these how to vote cards, the Liberals are some of the least favoured, put below Country Labor, the Democrats and National.

So, the answer seems likely here. The large number of independents in Nicholls is not an extreme coincidence or owing to some galvanising local issue. It's, if I may be blunt, political ratfucking. Someone in National HQ has gotten some party members to run in Nicholls spouting whatever nonsense for votes, and direct them away from the left and towards the Nationals.

Not much can be done about this, but Australians should know of these tactics being used in Nicholls before they vote tomorrow, whether you're a Nicholls voter or you live on the other side of the country, it gives insight into the lengths politicians can go to in pursuing power.